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I Have Been Photographing Alps For 10 Years

My name is Roberto Bertero, I am a mountain photographer and a professional musician (a classical organist) based in Turin, Italy. I have been shooting mountains since 2007, but my love for those pristine places has always been part of me.

Being born in the region of Piedmont (whose name literally means "at the foot of the mountains"), before I even begun my hiking/alpinist activities, my own imagination as a child was already up there, wandering around those wild alpine areas. To me, the Alps have always represented: adventure, grace, freedom, and mystery. I would say all elements that can help inspire an existence.

The act of conquering a summit for me doesn't make any sense if it is not part of a complete alpine experience, like living the mountain at all hours and being able to solve problems related to the survival on the spot (find water, prepare a shelter for the night, etc). Because, in my point of view, only this elements have an authentic charm, and can transform what could be just a sporting activity in a complete life lesson. There is no "conquest" in the mountains, there is only inner search, desire to liberate oneself, focusing all senses on what really matters in life.

I am distressed by the Italian disinterestedness towards everything that makes culture and valorization of the territory. Most of the time local societies do not have money, and whoever has some funding always invests in the usual clichés. Such a waste of potential.

I would change things if only I could!… but I'm just a small person with ordinary resources, one like so many. All I can do is to focus on the real natural beauty of my country and, possibly, when I can, portray it. I want to close with a quote from the film Seven Years in Tibet by great director Jean-Jacques Annaud, who perfectly synthesizes also my vision of the mountain.

"Then, tell me what you love about mountain."

"The absolute simplicity. That's what I love. When you're climbing your mind is clear and free from all confusion. You have focus. And suddenly the light becomes sharper, the sounds are richer and you're filled with the deep, powerful presence of life".

May I add something more? I guess no. Here you are some shots that I hope can offer an idea of my own journey, both physical and photographic, undertaken during the last 10 years. Thanks for watching and for stopping by!

#1 The Mystic Planet

It is night and I stand on the highest mountain of the Vallée Étroite, the Mount Thabor (3.178 m), Hautes-Alpes (France).
The mists along the valley, illuminated by the pale light of the full moon, offered me the opportunity to admire this almost otherworldly scene. The colors and the moderate brightness is perfectly faithful to the observed scene.
For an instant I've thought to be landed on a distant planet, lost in... Read More

It is night and I stand on the highest mountain of the Vallée Étroite, the Mount Thabor (3.178 m), Hautes-Alpes (France).
The mists along the valley, illuminated by the pale light of the full moon, offered me the opportunity to admire this almost otherworldly scene. The colors and the moderate brightness is perfectly faithful to the observed scene.
For an instant I've thought to be landed on a distant planet, lost in space, were it not that my eyes could still recognize the various surrounding mountains, like: the Grand Seru (2.889 m), Guglia Rossa (2.548 m), Fraiteve (2.702 m), Rognosa di Sestriere (3.280 m), Chaberton (3.131 m), Pic de Rochebrune (3.324 m)...

#3 Mystical Intersections

The Milky Way aligned with the north east face of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Dolomites) seems flowing into the two rivers of clouds below. Hence the title of this photograph.
Among the many stars, is perfectly recognizable Altair, the biggest and brightest on the left of the Milky Way.
I've then mounted my tent (visible in the lower center) for the night.

#4 Mountains Dream Too

Shot taken on September 7th 2012, at 7:15 a.m. from the summit of mount Rocciamelone (3,538 m), Italy.
Distant valleys, ridges, shrouded in the ethereal golden light that follows the sunrise, seemed still wrapped in a mystical dream.
As in an ancient Chinese print...
Picture captured with a 300mm telephoto lens. These are places quite far from the summit of mount Rocciamelone, but to be looking for these details, "fragments" in an immense... Read More

Shot taken on September 7th 2012, at 7:15 a.m. from the summit of mount Rocciamelone (3,538 m), Italy.
Distant valleys, ridges, shrouded in the ethereal golden light that follows the sunrise, seemed still wrapped in a mystical dream.
As in an ancient Chinese print...
Picture captured with a 300mm telephoto lens. These are places quite far from the summit of mount Rocciamelone, but to be looking for these details, "fragments" in an immense landscape, is always my priority.
Actually to search the otherworldly on Earth is my priority.

#5 Cloud Wave

I took this photo at dawn on September 10th 2010, after a night spent on the summit of Mount Rocciamelone (3,538 m - 11,608 ft), Susa Valley, Italy.
The rising sun was magically enlightening rivers of clouds sinuously caressing the steep mountain ridges below.

#6 The Creation

Rosengarten, Dolomites. The Vajolet Towers at dawn, mystically shrouded in mist.
There are scenes, moments, experiences of our lives, which can hardly be expressed in words. In some cases a simple image can be more direct, although even here it is not always easy to "grab the instant" but it's always worth at least a try.

#9 Vallée Du Vénéon

#10 Matterhorn West Face From My Tent

The west wall of the Matterhorn (4.478 m) stands outside of my tent!
Shot taken on the highest point of Stockji glacier (3.600 m), a hundred meters below the summit of the Tête Blanche, along the ski mountaineering Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt.
When I can, I do not miss the opportunity to take a picture from the inside of my tent :-) whose tentine, by their very nature, lend themselves to frame the... Read More

The west wall of the Matterhorn (4.478 m) stands outside of my tent!
Shot taken on the highest point of Stockji glacier (3.600 m), a hundred meters below the summit of the Tête Blanche, along the ski mountaineering Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt.
When I can, I do not miss the opportunity to take a picture from the inside of my tent :-) whose tentine, by their very nature, lend themselves to frame the subject. Also it can be fun to try correlations between the geometric interior design of the tent and the structure of the landscape outside. In photography the geometry is relevant as well as the light.

About the author

I am a professional musician and photographer based in Turin, Italy.
The resulting pictures are just the top of an "iceberg" that symbolizes a personal path of continuous and deep research about the ancient mysteries of this world and the universe. Sometimes I think that photography is just a personal excuse to return in certain places, look for new ones... and so continue the "endless journey".